Bag-lock.



C. TOTTEN.

BAG LOCK APPLICATION FILED AUG. l2. I914.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915.

/vi/twaaoao' I 1 1 it THE NORRIS PETERS ca. PHOTO-L!THD.. WASHINGTON, D. (,2

CLEOPHAS TOTTEN, 0F DENNISON, OHIO.

BAG-LOCK.

actose.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1915..

Application filed August 12, 1914. Serial No. 856,379.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEorHAs TOTTEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dennison, in the county of Tuscarawas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bag-Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bag locks.

An object of the invention is to provide a lock for bags particularly adapted for containing mail-matter or other important commodities, and which will hold the bag in a securely locked position to prevent entrance thereto, or tampering with the contents of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock for bags in which the locking mechanism is permanently attached to the neck of the bag to prevent any of the parts comprising the lock from being lost or misplaced and which will hold the bag in a securely locked position.

With the above-general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and then claimed.

In the accompanying drawing which shows the preferred embodiments of the present invention and to which reference is had herein by like characters designating corresponding parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bag-locking means, with a portion of a bag shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the locking mechanism, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the locking staple and auxiliary staple plate, detached from the lock.

Briefly described, the present invention consists in providing a lock for bags in which the lock is permanently attached to the bag adjacent the neck opening thereof, and preferably embodying a flexible strap to one end of which is secured the staple and staple plate, while the other end of thestrap has connected thereto a hinged hasp adapted to be brought to position to engage the staple and retained in such position by any suitable form of look, as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, the reference letter A designates the upper end, or neck portion of a bag, shown in dotted lines and preferably made of some suitable stout and strong fabric material, especially adapted for containmg mail matter or other important coinmodities, and as shown in Fig. 1 has secured to the said neck portion locking mechanism increased in strength at this point rather than diminished by rivets passing there through, caused by-the said strap 12.

One end of the strap 10 is preferably increased in width as at 13, and secured to the outer face thereof as by rivets lat or any other suitable fastening means, is a main staple plate 15 having a terminal outwardly directed lug or shoulder 16, for pur poses to be later described. The staple plate 15 carries the staple 17 that has one end swaged to the inner face thereof, while the other end of said staple extends through the plate 15 and enlarged end 13 of the strap to engage at its protruding end as at 18, an auxiliary reinforcing staple plate 19 disposed inwardly of the strap end 13. A detailed perspective view of the auxiliary staple plate and staple is shown in Fig. 3. The opposite end of the strap 10 is reduced in width as at 20 and is folded inwardly upon itself and secured together as by a rivet 21. The looped reduced end 20 of the strap forms a pivot for the swinging hasp and is held in spaced relation by a spacing block or strap 22. The hasp plate 23 is provided with the usual slotted opening 24 to be received on the staple 17, and has fixed to the outer face thereof a substantially U- shaped keeper 25 with the closed end thereof received in the loop end 20 of the strap and afiording a swinging pivot for the hasp 23. It is to be noted that the outer face of the staple plate 15 and the inner face of the swinging hasp 23 have a like camber and accordingly lie juxtaposed when the lock is in the position shown in Fig. 1. Any suitable form of look as indicated at C may be employed in connection with the staple 15 to hold the bag in securely locked posi tion.

After the contents has been placed within the bag 'A, the neck of the said bag is folded to the position shown in dotted lines and the ends 13 and 20 of the strap moved clamped within the strap 10 during which movement, the hasp 23 has its opening 24 receiving the staple 17. The lock C is then positioned as shown in Fig. 1 and the contents held against tampering by unauthorized persons.

WVhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to confine myselfto the exact details of construction shown, as various forms, modifications and arrangement of the parts as shown may be had without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. .1

' What I claim as new is The combination with a bag, of a strap permanently secured intermediate of its ends to the bag and having one end reduced in Width and secured upon itself to form a loop, a main staple-plate secured to the outer surface of the broad end of the strap and provided at one end with a shoulder, and at its other end with a tongue, an auxiliary staple plate disposed on the inner surface of the strap, a staple carried by the tongue and having its terminals swaged in Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

